Another view: An unmanned State Department can’t solve crises

Friday

Nov 2, 2018 at 4:00 AM

The following appears on Bloomberg Opinion:

There are so many better ways the U.S. could have handled the slaying of Jamal Khashoggi. Within hours of his disappearance, for instance, the American ambassadors to Turkey and Saudi Arabia — seasoned professionals backed by the full authority of the president — could have tapped their contacts for information and pressed both governments for answers.

But almost two years after taking office, President Donald Trump has yet to nominate ambassadors for Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The same is true for U.S. treaty allies Australia and Thailand; critical partners such as Mexico, Singapore, Jordan and South Africa; and about 20 other posts. More than 40 ambassadorships — about a quarter of the total — also sit empty with nominees awaiting confirmation.

This dangerous gap in U.S. diplomatic representation reflects the administration’s chaotic appointment process and, more troubling, its seeming contempt for the idea of nonpartisan career public servants. Of the 702 federal government positions requiring Senate confirmation, only 380 have been filled; 135 have no nominee at all.

While Democrats have held up some nominations, raw partisanship is not to blame for most of these empty seats. This administration has been slower than any of the last five to nominate officials — and it’s no wonder, given Trump’s leadership style. “I’m the only one that matters,” he has insisted, and he routinely refuses to appoint any Republicans who have criticized him (let alone consider Democrats).

The State Department has arguably suffered the most. The Trump administration has looked at its career officials in leadership positions as Obama holdovers, and fired or demoted almost all of them. Only 18 of the 28 assistant secretary-level positions have been filled, and none with an active career professional. (Historically, these experts have held about 40 percent of such jobs.) Under former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, budgets were slashed, promotions held back, loyalty lists compiled, and recruitment of new officers all but halted.

Similar stories have played out in other departments. The net result: a speedy exodus of experienced federal workers.

To his credit, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has lifted his department’s hiring freeze, and prodded the administration to put forward dozens of nominations. His effort to restore “swagger” to the State Department would be more effective, however, if he tapped career ranks for more senior positions, punished those who are still conducting political witch hunts and invested in his workforce. A coming test will be next year’s international affairs budget. Congress wisely blunted the drastic cuts the White House proposed last year. It also demanded that more Foreign Service officers be hired. Enlightened State Department leadership should make such legislative micromanagement unnecessary.

Whether they’re working in foreign affairs or environmental protection, nonpartisan career public servants help keep government effective, transparent and free of corruption.

Not recognizing this, Trump is decimating the government’s managerial capacity, aggravating turnover, and making it harder to recruit the best and brightest to public service.

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